Essential Features of Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS)

A Results-Focused Assessment

Instructional Time is Precious: Need to spend time teaching, not testing

• DIBELS measures do not assess all aspects of reading
• Short duration fluency-based measures

Some Skills are More Important Than Others:

• Assesses skills that are predictive of later reading proficiency
• Provides timely feedback to schools and teachers to enable responsive instruction
• Allows early identification of students who need instructional support
• Assesses whether children are learning enough